A pioneer of clinical research education in this country is Vijay Moza, promoter-chief executive of the Mumbai-based Clinical Research Education & Management Academy (CREMA). A postgrad in international studies from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, Moza began his professional career selling Hawkins pressure cookers in 1980. After three years with Hawkins, he switched tracks and signed up with computer hardware major HCL where he struck a friendship with Sivraman Dugal. In 1989 Moza resigned from HCL to sign up with Pertech Computers. Following stints in Modi Corp and the Lakshmi Mittal-promoted Computech Inter-national Ltd, in 2004 he teamed up with Dugal to promote the Institute of Clinical Research India, of which Moza became vice-chairman. “Actually we wanted to start a clinical research company but couldn’t find trained people, so instead we started creating skilled researchers,” recalls Moza.
However in January 2007 Moza and Dugal parted ways and Moza promoted CREMA, which offers five study programmes in clinical research, data and pharmacovigilance management and a full-time MBA in healthcare manage-ment to 800 students in its four learning centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
“Currently the output of the healthcare industry is estimated at US$ 35 billion (Rs.163,000 crore) and is expected to rise to $75 billion by 2012 and $150 billion (Rs.697,000 crore) by 2017. According to the Investment Commission of India, the healthcare sector has experienced phenomenal growth of 12 percent per annum in the past four years, and will need over 1 million research and management professionals by 2012. Likewise investment in the new drug trials market is over Rs.6,000 crore and needs an army of trained investigators,” says Moza.
Having consolidated the operations of CREMA, in 2008 Moza promoted the Indian School of Integrated Learning (ISIL) to provide skills training to graduates and corporate executives, with an investment of Rs.20 crore. “After our success in CREMA with science grads who were undergoing career blues for lack of opportunities and working in call centres, I decided to apply the logic of CREMA to all graduates. A 2005 Nasscom-McKinsey report says only 25-30 percent of the 3 million graduates who complete college education every year are employable. Our investigation into this curious phenomenon revealed that while Indian students are academically bright they lack the soft skills required in business and industry,” says Moza.
Therefore to reduce the gap between domain knowledge and employable skills (soft skills and emotional intelligence), ISIL has introduced training programmes in business proficiency delivered in CREMA’s centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad in collaboration with British communication company Speak First, which will train ISIL trainers and acquaint them with best global practices.
“We have plans to expand the activ-ities of CREMA and ISIL to encompass 30-40 cities by 2012. I believe that in both our businesses — clinical research management and soft skills development — demand is unlimited and growing. As an emerging, globally competitive economy, India requires well-rounded professionals. Our mission is to meet this need,” says Moza.
Wind in your sails!
Autar Nehru (Delhi)